Helicopter



March 22 1927'. -A. P. FILIPPI HELICOPTER Filed Feb. 6. 1926 5 Sheets-Shetl March 22 1927y A. P. FILIPP:

HELICOPTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Febf 6, 1926 A. P. FILIPPI HELICOPTER Filed Feb. e. 1926 s sheets-sheet s March 22,1927.

-. porting member of t Sii Panna-a Mir. 22, 1927.

.ANTOINE PADOUE FILIPPI, F PARIS, FRANCE.

HELI'corsrEB. l

sppumon ined February a, 192s, serial an. 86,514, ma in mum rebmuyav, lass.

It is well known how ditlicult'it is to obtain, by means actually known, the stablliy of a 'helicopter which is rising or deseen ing vertically, which is moving slowly 1n an 6 inclined or horizontal direction, and in a general manner when the speed relatively to the surrounding medium is too weak for the action of the ordinary propellers to be ellicient.

The present invention has for its subcct means for enabling the stability of equi ibrium of helicopters to be obtainedin their normal position of ascent, descent or fii ht.,

This means consists in'using the-action,

' 15 on auxiliary variable surfaces, of a current of air produced by the supporting plane or planes of the?` helicopter.

The current of air roduced by the suplie helicopter has in act a certain` kinetic force. Y

ln opposing to this current of air surfaces which are varied either in size or direction, there is added to the various forces acting on the ap aratus asupplementary component wlric is capable o variation in vlew of the res'ults which it is desired to obtain.

These may be very different.

When, under any muence', the apparatus is caused to deviate from its normal posi tion of ascent, descent or iight, it can'be -returnedto this position.

It is also possible to modify the move- `ments o* ascent and descent.

Finall it is possible to act upon the steer'- ing of tliie apparatus about its vertical axis Without it being necessary to bring into operation the members for horizontal propulsion in order to assist this operation.

The variation of the auxiliary surfaces which areused may be effected automaticall or actuated or .both operations may be e fected simultaneously.

Hereinafter there is described an operat ing device of which the action may be adjusted automatically either by the action of a pendulum or by the action of a gyroscope system. 'i

' This device constitutes an automatic operating valve. l

It is provi communicating with a compressed air tank and -in the diametral plane of which there -is located a thick diaphra ca able of oscillating in all directions a out t e centre ded with a hemispherical'dome` vof the sphere under the action of the pendulum or gyroscope.

Finally in the wall of the spherical dome and also along a-diametral plane, there are provided a certain number of openings communicatlng with cylinders in which are adapted to move pistons subjected tothe action of opposing springs and of which recess containing compressed air and leaves them in communication with the atmos here.

When oscillating about its centre t e di ametral dia hragm deviates from its normal position an brings one or more of the c linders in communication with the interior of the spherical dome. Y The compressed kair contained in the dome acts upon the corresponding pistons and produces a compression of lthe sprin opposing the movement of the pistons an the members to be operated to be moved.

` When the diametral diaphragm returns to its normal position it closes communication between the interior of the spherical dome and the cylinders and the latter are simultaneously brought into communication with the atmosphere so that the corresponding pistons, under the action ofthe said s rin s,

return to their original position as a so t e members which were previously moved.

In the accompanying'drawings are illus-- trated, by way of example, various forms of the appllcation of the invention.

Figure l is a view in' elevation cfa heli i copter provided laterally with expansible auxiliary surfaces.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same apparatus, the supporting device .being omitted. l'

Figure 3v illustrates a section of the opergure 5 is a view in elevation-of ra. heli' n, is

Figure 6 is a plan view ofthe apparatus illustrated in elevation inr Figure 5, one of the groups of' `supporting .planes 'being omitted. l i- The a paratus shown in Figures 1 and 2` is provid with a hull lfhavingat lits'lower part a carriage 2 and at its upper part a` group of sup rting planes 3 composed of' two cyrnos p anes, of the Filippi system,4a and 5 turning in opposite directions. y

, The apparatus rovided at the front with a ulling grou a so composed of two cyrnos blades of the ilippi system 6 and 7 Finally at various points of its .equatorial p1aneat 8, 9, 10, the apparatus is'provided with auxiliary ex ansi e surfaces adapted to ensure the sta ility of its equilibrium. These surfaces are composed of a series of( blades 11 capable of turning about an axis 12 and of 'which the whole constitutes a kind v of fan., At 8 the surface is shown com-l pletely extended. At 8Y all the blades are collapsed and-accommodated in the interior of the hull so as to ensure the complete 'withdrawal of the said surface. It'will be readily understood that if the `apparatus deviates to the ri ht, to the* left,

to the'front or to the rear o its normal pos ition it will besuicient to expanda suitable amount of the surfaces 8, 9 or 10 to cause the apparatus to return into its position.` Y

In Figures 3 and 4 is shown the construction of the device which may be used forA operating the said surfaces. The pige/13 laces'the system 14, enclosed by the sp eric dome 15,in communication with a compressed air tank, not shown.

In the cylinders 16,-16, 16f, 16 are adapted to move pistons 17,17 etc., which are subjected tothe action of opposing springs 18. The diametral diaphragm 19, to

which is secured, by a rigid rod 20, a balance weight 21, interrupts any communication between the chamber 14 and the interior of the cylinders 16 as long asthe rod 20 remains at right angles to vthe plane AB.

At this moment the interiors of the cylinders 16 communicate with the atmos here through suitable openings arranged elow the'awpriphery of theN diaphragm 19.

en the apparatus rocks from one sid'e to the other the plane AB will no longer be horizontal and the rod 20,V under the action of the balancev weightVY 26, tends always to remain in a vertical position so that the 'diametral diaphragm 19 tends to assume the position shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 3 in relation to the spherical dome 15 and the cylinders '16. At this moment the cylinder 16 is brought into communication.

with the chamber 14 and the piston 17 will be forced towards the end of. the cylinder and produces the desired action on the surface to be operated.

.be equi pcd t possible to use auxiliary surfaceswhich are When the ap aratus returns to its` normal position, the p ane .AB willagain be horizontal so that the dia hragm 19 will have returned to its origina position and the'piston 17 willno longer be exposed tothe actio'iLof the compressed air and will conseuently producev the colla sing of the -surace which was previous y expanded, or vice versa. v y v In the apparatus shown iii'Fig'ures 5 and 6, (a paratus which is characterized by a plura ity of sustaining groups and by the combination with a pulling roup 22 of a. pro eller group 23), thelvariable auxiliary sur aces which areused, instead of being being expanded in the formof a fan magfbe composed of sim le blades 24 movable a ut turn into the interior Vof the latter.

These lblades may be associated, grouped and .disposed according to the requirements and accordinto .the apparatus .which is to erewith.

It wi l be understood' that 4in carryin out the invention any other device of auxi iary surface mayv be used andfother systems for the operation thereof. Forv example it is capable of .being folded against the hull and which when required may be spread out therefrom. 7

In orderto produce the. rotation .of' the ap aratus about its vertical axis it is ossib e to use dorsal surfaces which are p ain or curved and suitably directed. y The invention also includes all arran ements wherein there is used the action o a stream of" air produced Iby the supporting plane or planes of the apparatus and actin on a variable auxiliary surface.v I-Iaving thus described my invention what I'claini'as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In av helicopter a plurality of expanding surfaces, a spherical chamber with means for sup lying compressed air tosaid .chamber, a urality of;cylinders arranged around said c amber, pistons in said cylinders, operatin means etween said pistons and said i expan ing surfaces, and means for controlling the passage of air from the spherical chamber to the cylinders according Vto the tilting of the helicopters whereby said surfaces will be expan ed in accordance with the tilting ofthe helico ter.

2. In a helicopter a p urality of expanding surfaces, a spherical chamber with means# forsup lying compressed air to said cham-125 ling the passage oi air 4from the spherical so. 1 composed of a series of blades capable-of' u pistons in said cylinders, op-

chamber to the cylinders according the tilting of the helico r whereby said surfaces will be expan ed in accordance with the tilting of the helicopter, said means consisting of a diaphragm arranged diametrically in the spherical chamber, and means for normally retaining the diaphragm in the horizontal ition so that it remams substantially stationary whilst'l the spherical chamber moves in relation thereto.

3. In a helico ter a plurality of expansible and colla si le members, and means for expanding an collapsing said members according to the tilting of the helicopter, said means comprising a spherical chamber and means for supplying compressed air thereto,i

said chamber having a plurality of open ings arranged in the diametral plane thereof, a plurality of cdyllindersg the number of cylinders correspon 'n wit the'number of expansible a'nd collapsi le devices, said 'cylinders communicating with said openin 4a plurality of pistons onein each of said cylinders,connecting means between said cylinders and the corresponding expansible and collapsible devices, springs acting upon said pistons so as to normally hold said pistons in a position to the expansible 'and collapsible devices are -in the collapsed position, a diaphr vm diametrically arranged in said spheric chamber and adapted to .co-operate with said diametralA o means comprising a spherical chamber and means for supplying compressed air thereto, said chamber having a .plurality of openings arranged in the diametral plane thereof, a plurality of o lindcrs, the number of cylinders correspondin with the number of` ex ansible and collapsible devices, said cylin ers communicating vwith said o a plurality "of pistons, one in each of said cy inders, connecting means between said cylinders and the corresponding expansible and collapsible devices, springs acting upon said pistons so as to normally hold said pistons in a position to the expansible and collapsible devices are in the collapsed position, a dia hragm diametrically arranged in said spherical chamber and adapted to cooperate with said diametral openings, and means for normally holding said diaphragm in a horizontal position, said last mentioned means comprising a rod ri idly connected to the diap ragm at one en and a balance -weight secured to the other end of said rod.

ANTOINE PADOUE FILIPPI. 

